Rapid and reversible dissolution of biomolecular condensates using light-controlled recruitment of a solubility tag.

ABSTRACT: Biomolecular condensates are broadly implicated in both normal cellular regulation and disease. Consequently, several chemical biology and optogenetic approaches have been developed to induce phase separation of a protein of interest. However, few tools are available to perform the converse function-dissolving a condensate of interest on demand. Such a tool would aid in testing whether the condensate plays specific functional roles, a major question in cell biology and drug development. Here we report an optogenetic approach to selectively dissolve a condensate of interest in a reversible and spatially controlled manner. We show that light-gated recruitment of maltose-binding protein (MBP), a commonly used solubilizing domain in protein purification, results in rapid and controlled dissolu

SUBMITTER: Brumbaugh-Reed EH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10827175 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature